Tampa DUI Misconception Lawyer

When it comes to drinking and driving, misconceptions are everywhere. It seems like everyone’s friend has a surefire way to fool the cops or cheat the breathalyzer test. Unfortunately, most of these schemes won’t hold up once you are actually faced with a police officer. Breath mints won’t fool anyone, and mouthwash can actually make your situation worse against a breathalyzer. Strong coffee may perk you up, but it won’t help you process the alcohol in your system any faster. If you really want to skate past the cops on the way home, any good Tampa DUI attorney will tell you that your only foolproof plan is to call a cab.

One of the biggest misconceptions involving alcohol is that you cannot be arrested for DUI as long as your blood alcohol level is below 0.08%. This misconception—which has spurred the sale of thousands of dubious personal keychain breathalyzer machines—most likely stems from Florida’s DUI Per Se laws. These laws actually state that you can be arrested for DUI whether you appear impaired or not, as long as you are shown to have a BAC of 0.08% or higher. What many people don’t realize, however, is that the law works both ways—you can also be arrested for DUI with a blood alcohol level short of 0.08%, if you proven to have at least some alcohol in your system and are showing clear signs of being intoxicated and impaired.

Consult a Tampa DUI Attorney If you Have Been Charged with DUI

What’s more: as alcohol in your stomach continues to be processed by your body, your blood alcohol level can continue to rise for up to an hour after you stop drinking. This means that even if you were technically good enough to drive when you left the party, it might be a different story by the time you are pulled over.

While we hope that you never have to grapple with a DUI arrest, we realize that things happen—and we are here for you when they do. If you are facing DUI charges, you need an attorney who will fight for you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a top Tampa DUI attorney today.